U.S. patent number 7,287,232 [Application Number 09/764,302] was granted by the patent office on 2007-10-23 for information display system having graphical user interface switchingly controlling information display on display screen.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Fujitsu Limited. Invention is credited to Asami Tanaka, Takeshi Tomaru, Tadao Tsuchimura.
United States Patent |
7,287,232 |
Tsuchimura , et al. |
October 23, 2007 |
Information display system having graphical user interface
switchingly controlling information display on display screen
Abstract
Disclosed is an information display system capable of
efficiently browsing items of information related by links. When
displaying the information obtained by accessing a network, a
plurality of display areas are formed, and plural items of
information are displayed in these display areas. In this case, a
display history of the information displayed may be stored, and the
items of information displayed at the present or in the past may be
displayed in a predetermined order in the respective display areas.
When a first item of information displayed in a first display area
is related to a second item of information, and when given an
indication of displaying a second item of information, the second
item of information may be displayed in a second display area while
keeping the display of the first item of information in the first
display area.
Inventors: |
Tsuchimura; Tadao (Kawasaki,
JP), Tomaru; Takeshi (Kawasaki, JP),
Tanaka; Asami (Kawasaki, JP) |
Assignee: |
Fujitsu Limited (Kawasaki,
JP)
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Family
ID: |
18643194 |
Appl.
No.: |
09/764,302 |
Filed: |
January 19, 2001 |
Prior Publication Data
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Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
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US 20010038394 A1 |
Nov 8, 2001 |
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Foreign Application Priority Data
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May 8, 2000 [JP] |
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2000-135030 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
715/792; 715/788;
707/E17.119 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F
3/04847 (20130101); G06F 16/957 (20190101); G09G
2370/027 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
G06F
3/00 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;345/764,769,792,810,848-852
;715/848-852,764,769,792,810,834,854,835,808,841,863,788
;725/38-61 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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0 279 652 |
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Aug 1988 |
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EP |
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EP |
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0957438 |
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EP |
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A-5-119946 |
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JP |
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A-8-149387 |
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Jun 1996 |
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JP |
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09-259128 |
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JP |
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A-9-223084 |
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JP |
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A-10-105334 |
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Apr 1998 |
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JP |
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A-10-171755 |
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Jun 1998 |
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JP |
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A-10-207898 |
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Aug 1998 |
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JP |
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A-11-306317 |
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JP |
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A-2000-20384 |
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Jan 2000 |
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JP |
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WO99/46651 |
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Sep 1999 |
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WO |
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Other References
Communication dated Oct. 14, 2003 from the European Patent Office
including a partial European Search Report. cited by other .
Communication dated Dec. 12, 2003 from the European Patent Office
including a European Search Report. cited by other .
PolyTRIM Documentation, Internet Article, 'Online! 1994, pp. 1-5,
Centre for Landscape Research, University of Toronto,
URL:http://www.clr.toronto.edu:1080/POLYTRIM/ptdoc/RTF/PT-AppB-CourseNote-
s.rtf.Z.ht . . . cited by other.
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Primary Examiner: Kincaid; Kristine
Assistant Examiner: Nguyen; L
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Staas & Halsey LLP
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An information display system comprising: a display unit
displaying a circumferential turn object which includes an
indicator, indicating any one piece of identifying information
among pieces of identifying information arranged along
substantially a circumferential shape, circumferentially turning
about the center of the circumferential shape; a detection unit
detecting an operation of said operation unit with respect to said
circumferential turn object; and a control unit circumferentially
turning said indicator in accordance with the detected operation;
wherein said operation unit is a pointing device having at least
two pieces of buttons, and said indicator turns counterclockwise by
depressing said first button and turns clockwise by depressing said
second button.
2. An information display system according to claim 1, wherein said
two buttons are right and left buttons, said first button is the
left button, and said second button is the right button.
3. An information display system comprising: a communication unit
obtaining information by accessing a network; a display unit
displaying the information obtained; a correspondence storage
module making an item of identifying information correspond to a
specified item of information; and a control unit displaying, in a
display area, the information obtained from the network via said
communication unit, wherein said display unit includes a display
area for displaying the information and a circumferential turn
object having an indicator, indicating any one piece of identifying
information among pieces of identifying information arranged along
substantially a circumferential shape, circumferentially turning
about the center of the circumferential shape, and said control
unit detects an operation of said operation unit with respect to
said circumferential turn object, circumferentially turns said
indicator in accordance with the operation of said operation unit,
and displays the information corresponding to the identifying
information indicated in a position to which said indicator is
circumferentially turned, wherein said operation unit is a pointing
device having at least two pieces of buttons, and said indicator
turns counterclockwise by depressing said first button and turns
clockwise by depressing said second button.
4. An information display system according to claim 3, wherein said
turn object has pieces of information arranged along said
substantially circumferential shape and each representing the
number of divisions by which the display area of said display unit
is divided, and when said indicator is turned to the position of
indicating the information representing the number of divisions,
the display area is divided by this number of divisions, and plural
items of information are displayed in the divided display
areas.
5. A storage medium readable by a machine tangible embodying a
program of instructions executable by the machine to perform method
steps comprising: displaying a circumferential turn object
including an indicator, for indicating any one piece of identifying
information among pieces of identifying information arranged along
substantially a circumferential shape, circumferentially turning
about the center of the circumferential shape; detecting an
operation with respect to said circumferential turn object; and
circumferentially turning said indicator in accordance with the
detected operation, wherein the operation is an operation of a
pointing device having at least two pieces of buttons, and an
indicator is turned counterclockwise by depressing said first
button and turned clockwise by depressing said second button.
6. A storage medium readable by a machine tangible embodying a
program according to claim 5, of instructions executable by the
machine, wherein said two buttons are right and left buttons, said
first button is the left button, and said second button is the
right button.
7. A storage medium readable by a machine, tangible embodying a
program of instructions executable by the machine to perform method
steps comprising: obtaining information by accessing a network;
forming a display area for displaying the information; displaying a
circumferential turn object having an indicator, for indicating any
one piece of identifying information among pieces of identifying
information arranged along substantially a circumferential shape,
circumferentially turning about the center of the circumferential
shape; making the identifying information corresponding to a
specified item of information; detecting an operation with respect
to said circumferential turn object; circumferentially turning said
indicator in accordance with the detected operation; and
displaying, in said display area, the information corresponding to
the identifying information indicated in a position to which said
indicator is circumferentially turned; wherein the operation is an
operation of a pointing device having at least two pieces of
buttons, and an indicator is turned counterclockwise by depressing
said first button and turned clockwise by depressing said second
button.
8. A storage medium readable by a machine tangible embodying a
program according to claim 7, of instructions executable by the
machine, wherein said turn object has pieces of information
arranged along substantially a circumferential shape and each
representing the number of divisions by which the display area of
said display unit is divided, and when said indicator is turned to
the position of indicating the information representing the number
of divisions, the display area is divided by this number of
divisions, and plural items of information are displayed in the
divided display areas.
9. An information display method comprising: displaying a
circumferential turn object including an indicator, for indicating
any one piece of identifying information among pieces of
identifying information arranged along substantially a
circumferential shape, circumferentially turning about the center
of the circumferential shape; detecting an operation with respect
to said circumferential turn object; and circumferentially turning
said indicator in accordance with the detected operation; wherein
the operation is an operation of a pointing device having at least
two pieces of buttons, and an indicator is turned counterclockwise
by depressing said first button and turned clockwise by depressing
said second button.
10. An information display method according to claim 9, wherein
said two buttons are right and left buttons, said first button is
the left button, and said second button is the right button.
11. An information display method comprising: obtaining information
by accessing a network; forming a display area for displaying the
information; displaying a circumferential turn object having an
indicator, for indicating any one piece of identifying information
among pieces of identifying information arranged along
substantially a circumferential shape, circumferentially turning
about the center of the circumferential shape; making the
identifying information corresponding to a specified item of
information; detecting an operation with respect to said
circumferential turn object; circumferentially turning said
indicator in accordance with the detected operation; and
displaying, in said display area, the information corresponding to
the identifying information indicated in a position to which said
indicator is circumferentially turned; wherein the operation is an
operation of a pointing device having at least two pieces of
buttons, and an indicator is turned counterclockwise by depressing
said first button and turned clockwise by depressing said second
button.
12. An information display method according to claim 11, wherein
said turn object has pieces of information arranged along
substantially a circumferential shape and each representing the
number of divisions by which the display area of said display unit
is divided, and when said indicator is turned to the position of
indicating the information representing the number of divisions,
the display area is divided by this number of divisions, and plural
items of information are displayed in the divided display areas.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an information display system
having a graphical user interface (GUI).
With a spread of the Internet over the recent years, a technology
of readily browsing the information has been demanded. As a result,
an information display system incorporating a program known as a
browser was developed. The conventional browser has only one
display area, and hence the user switches over a page by updating
the information in that display area by overwriting, or starting
another browser and displaying the information thereon, or
rewriting a content in the same display area by selecting an index
called a tab.
Generally, the information browsed on the Internet takes a
structure called a web, in which plural pieces of information are
linked. This mechanism for connecting the information to the
information is known as a "link". In the Internet, the user is able
to browse the items of information related to each other by
following the links. The links can be normally followed by clicking
the information indicating the link with a pointing device such as
a mouse etc.
In the conventional display system displays the information to be
browsed in the single display area and is therefore very hard to
use in the following applications in some cases.
(1) When the user refers to a link destination (clicks a link) from
one item of information (which will hereinafter be called an
original page) on the Internet, the information of the link
destination is displayed by erasing the original page. Therefore,
if the user tries to refer to other item of information linked to
the original page, the user must executes an operation of getting
[Back] to the original page each time. Further, the user must
perform an operation of starting the browser again and displaying
the original page thereon in order to avoid the laborious [Back]
operation.
(2) The user is unable to compare two contents on the conventional
one browser. For example, in the case of creating two schemes of
homepage and trying to compare them with each other and of
comparing commercial articles in Net shopping, the user must start
the two browsers.
(3) When the user attempts to arrange plural items of information
in the same screen dimensions, it takes a labor to adjust the
screen dimensions of the browsers opened separately and arrange
them.
(4) When the user tries to get back to a specified page after
following the plurality of links, the user must return by executing
the [Back] function each time. In this case, the prior art provided
a function of displaying a history of having followed the links
with characters of tiles of respective pages and specifying a
return page. The title characters do not, however, enable the user
to sufficiently grasp contents of that page. The user is therefore
unable to accurately find out the desired page in the history.
(5) On the typical browser, a page exhibiting a high frequency of
accessing by user is registered by utilizing a bookmark function
(this page will hereinafter be referred to as a registered page).
The user is, however, unable to browse a plurality of registered
pages at one time.
(6) When the user attempts to monitor an image and a picture on the
page updated periodically, e.g., at an interval of several minutes,
if the user is tempted to browse another page until the former page
is updated, there might be a possibility in which the user fails to
see the updating of the former image and the picture that should be
monitored.
(7) On the conventional browser, the user selects the page to be
displayed by inputting an address in an address input field or
picking up a desired page from a list of registered pages. The
selection mode of these modes takes operating steps in which a
hierarchy-structured list is displayed, and the user clicks the
page with the mouse. Therefore, the user is required to refer to
the hierarchy-structured list in order to select the desired page,
which is complicated in terms of operation.
On the other hand, an information processing system of nowadays
such as a personal computer etc uses a variety of programs such as
mailer for reading mail information in addition to the browser
described above, depending on a category of the information. The
user operates those program in a graphical user interface (GUI)
environment. A display on the screen, which is as an operation
target and represents a program or information, is called an
object.
In the GUI environment, a typical technique of moving this object
is an operation known as a drag involving the use a pointing
device. The drag is to manipulate the pointing device such as the
mouse etc in a way of pulling (dragging) the object while pointing
the object in order to bring the object that the user wishes to
move to a position where the user wishes to move the object.
In the prior art, if the object displayed on the screen is overlaid
by other object and the whole or apart of this object is invisible,
the user has hitherto moved the object overlaying the former object
by dragging it.
This operation method needs a space for operating the pointing
device such as the mouse etc. Further, the operation of moving the
object while depressing a mouse button is also required of the
user. Hence, there arises a problem inherent in this operation
method, wherein the operation is hard to persons advanced in age
and children or persons somewhat disable in their hands.
While on the other hand, if the user sets the object displayed on
the upper side in a non-display state, the problem described above
is not caused. If the object overlaying indicates the information
necessary for the user, however, a demand is that both of the upper
and lower objects should be displayed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is a primary object of the present invention, which was devised
to obviate the problems peculiar to the prior art, to provide an
information display system capable of efficiently browsing items of
information related by links.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an
information display system capable of readily comparing plural
items of information.
It is a further object to provide a graphical user interface for
displaying plural items of information by readily switching the
information.
It is a still further object of the present invention to provide
operation steps of readily obviating, when a plurality of objects
are overlapped with each other, this overlap of the objects in the
graphical user interface.
To accomplish the above objects, according to one aspect of the
present invention, an information display architecture is that a
plurality of display areas into which a predetermined area is
divided are provided, an information to be displayed in each
display area is specified, the specified information is acquired,
and the acquired information is displayed in the corresponding
display area.
In this case, the information may be acquired by accessing a
network.
Further, histories of items of information displayed may be stored,
and the items of information stored as the display histories may be
displayed in a predetermined order in the respective display
areas.
When a first item of information displayed in a first display area
is related to a second item of information, and when giving an
indication of displaying the second item of information, the second
item of information may be displayed in a second display area while
keeping the display of the first item of information in the first
display area.
In this case, the first item of information may be related to the
second item of information by use of a specified keyword, and, when
the keyword is dragged and dropped to the second display area, the
second item of information may be displayed.
Based on this architecture, the plural items of information related
to each other can be simultaneously displayed on the screen.
Further, a labor for an operation of getting back to the display
histories is saved. Moreover, there is provided a function of
displaying the plural items of information arranged and comparing
them.
Identifying information for identifying the display area maybe
displayed, when the identifying information corresponding to the
display area is specified through an operation unit, the display
area corresponding to the identifying information may be enlarged,
and only the single display area may be displayed.
The identifying information may be displayed within the display
area identified by the identifying information, when detecting an
indicating operation with respect to the identifying information,
the display area corresponding to the identifying information may
be enlarged.
In this case, when detecting an indication operation with respect
to the identifying information, the enlarged single display area
may be changed into a plurality of display areas.
According to another aspect of the present invention, in an
information display architecture a turn object is provided on the
screen, the turn object which includes an indicator, for indicating
any one piece of identifying information from among pieces of
identifying information is arranged along substantially a
circumferential shape, turns about the center of the
circumferential shape, an operation of the operation unit with
respect to the turn object is detected, the indicator is turned in
accordance with the detected operation, and the information
corresponding to the identifying information indicated in the
position to which the indicator is turned is displayed in the
display area.
This operation is an operation effected on a pointing device having
at least two pieces of buttons, and the indicator may turn
counterclockwise by depressing the first button and turn clockwise
by depressing the second button.
It is preferable that the two buttons are right and left buttons,
the first button is the left button, and the second button is the
right button.
With this contrivance, the information to be displayed can be
switched by turning the turn object with a simple operation.
The turn object may have pieces of information arranged along the
substantially circumferential shape and each representing the
number of divisions by which the display area of the display unit
is divided, when the indicator is turned to the position of
indicating the information representing the number of divisions,
the display area may be divided by this number of divisions, and
plural items of information may be displayed in the divided display
areas.
According to a further aspect of the present invention, an
information display architecture is that an object including an
indicator for indicating any one piece of identifying information
among plural pieces of identifying information is displayed, a
content of an indicating operation of an operation unit with
respect to the object is detected, and the indication of the
identifying information is changed in accordance with the detected
content of the indicating operation.
According to a still further aspect of the present invention, an
information display architecture is that when displaying an object
displayed on a screen and serving as an operation target, an
indicating operation of an operation unit with respect to the
object is detected, and a display mode of displaying the object on
the display unit is changed in accordance with the indicating
operation thereof. For example, the object may be moved and
displayed in a second display position by the indicating operation
with respect to the object displayed in a first display position.
Based on this architecture, for example, if the first object
overlays the second object, it is feasible to move the first object
and display the whole of the second object with a simple
operation.
As discussed above, according to the present invention, the
plurality of display areas are formed, and the plural items of
information are displayed in the respective display area.
Therefore, the items of information related by links can be
efficiently displayed. Further, the two contents can be thereby
easily compared with each other.
Moreover, according to the present invention, the operation
effected on the turn object is detected, and the indicator is
turned in accordance with this operation. Then, the information
corresponding to the identifying information indicated in the
position to which the indicator is turned, is displayed in the
display area, and hence the plural items of information can be
displayed by simply switching them.
According to the present invention, when detecting the
predetermined operation effected on the object displayed in the
first display position, this object is moved to and displayed in
the second display position. Therefore, if the plurality of objects
are overlapped, the overlap of the two objects can be easily
obviated.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a view showing an architecture of a network in a first
embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a view illustrating a hardware architecture of an
information display system 1 in the first embodiment of the present
invention;
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a data structure of a channel
table;
FIG. 4 is a view showing an example of display on a single
screen;
FIG. 5 is a view showing a 2-divided screen;
FIG. 6 is a view showing a 4-divided screen;
FIG. 7 is a view showing a 9-divided screen;
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a data structure of a history
management table;
FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a process of a browser;
FIG. 10 is a flowchart (1) showing an event process of the
browser;
FIG. 11 is a flowchart (2) showing the event process of the
browser;
FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a history management process of the
browser;
FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a channel switching process of the
browser;
FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing a modified example of the history
management process;
FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a history management list;
FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram showing operations effected on
the dial object 20;
FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing a process of detecting the operation
effected on the dial object 20;
FIG. 18 is an explanatory view showing the operation of moving the
object;
FIG. 19 is a diagram showing a structure of a program in a third
embodiment;
FIG. 20 is a chart showing a data structure of a movement
destination list;
FIG. 21 is a flowchart showing steps of the object moving
process;
FIG. 22 is a flowchart showing steps of the object moving process
in a modified example 1 thereof;
FIG. 23 is a flowchart showing a free region searching process;
FIG. 24 is an explanatory view showing how the object is moved in
the modified example 2 thereof;
FIG. 25 is a flowchart showing the object moving process in the
modified example thereof;
FIG. 26 is a diagram showing a structure of the program in a
modified example 3 thereof; and
FIG. 27 is a flowchart showing the object moving process in the
modified example thereof.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Preferred embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be
described with reference to the accompanying drawings. An
information display system 1 used for a user to browse information
existing on a remote disk of a host on a network or of user's own
local disk, will be explained in this embodiment.
<<First Embodiment>>
A first embodiment of the present invention will hereinafter be
described in conjunction with FIGS. 1 through 15.
FIG. 1 is a view showing an architecture of a network to which the
information display system 1 in the first embodiment has an access.
FIG. 2 is a view illustrating a hardware architecture of the
information display system 1. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a data
structure of a channel table used by the information display system
1. FIG. 4 is a view showing an example of display on a single
screen in the information display system 1. FIG. 5 is a view
showing a 2-divided screen. FIG. 6 is a view showing a 4-divided
screen. FIG. 7 is a view showing a 9-divided screen. FIG. 8 is a
diagram showing a data structure of a history management table used
by the information display system 1. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing
a process of a browser (a program for browsing the information)
executed by a CPU 1 of the information display system 1. FIGS. 10
and 11 are flowcharts each showing an event process of the browser.
FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a history management process of the
browser. FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a channel switching process
of the browser. FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing a modified example
of the history management process. FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a
history management list used in the modified example of the history
management process.
<Architecture of Network>
FIG. 1 is a view showing the network to which the information
display system 1 has the access. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the
information display system 1 is connected to servers 2 through 2n
(which will be generically referred to as servers 2) via the
network.
The information display system 1 includes a CPU 11 that executes
the browser utilizing HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol). The
browser functions to establish a connection with the servers 2 in
accordance with HTTP. In this state, the browser requests the
servers 2 to transmit items of information 3a, 3b, 3c or 3d (which
will hereinafter called the information 3a etc) possessed by the
servers 2, and displays the information 3a etc transmitted.
Further, the information display system 1 is capable of displaying
items of information 3e, 3f locally possessed by the system 1
itself.
The servers 2 has the items of information 3a, 3b, 3c or 3d based
on an HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) format. The information in
the HTML format retains data known as a link for indicating where
related information is stored. Therefore, when the user accesses
the information 3a etc via the browser of the information display
system 1, the related items of information can be obtained in
succession by following the links.
<Hardware Architecture>
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the hardware architecture of the
information display system 1. The information display system 1
includes the CPU 11 for executing the program, a memory 12 for
storing the program executed by the CPU 11 and data processed by
the CPU 11, a hard disk 13 for recording the program and the data,
a CRT 14 for displaying the information to the user, a keyboard 15
used for the user to input the data, a mouse 16 used for the user
to manipulate menus and icons on the CRT 14, and a communication
interface 17.
The CPU 11 executes the program stored in the memory 12, thereby
providing a function as the browser in the information display
system 1.
The memory 12 is stored with the program executed by the CPU 11 and
the data processed by the CPU 11.
The hard disk 13 records the program executed by the CPU 11 and the
data processed by the CPU 11.
The CRT 14 displays the data transmitted from the servers 2 and the
data processed by the CPU 11.
The keyboard 15 is used for inputting character data.
The mouse 16 is used for manipulating the menus and icons, and
following the links.
The communication interface 17 sends communication data to
communication path or receives the communication data from the
communication path in response to a command given from the CPU
11.
<Channel>
The present information display system 1, the CPU 11 executing the
browser, displays the HTML formatted data stored in the servers 2
on the Internet or stored in its own hard disk 13. The browser
identifies, as in the prior art, the display data with the aid of
URL (Uniform Resource Locator).
Further, the browser functions to store a plurality of URLs in the
form of corresponding to a plurality of channel numbers. The
channel number is, as in the case of a TV channel, a number for
indicating the information to be displayed.
FIG. 3 shows a structure of the channel table in which the channel
numbers and URLs are stored corresponding to each other. This
channel table is categorized as a one-dimensional table for
retaining URLs in character strings. In the information display
system 1 in the first embodiment, the channel table has entries 1
to 9.
The channel table is retained on the memory 12, wherein the entry
numbers 1 to 9 correspond to addresses on the memory 12. Namely,
the CPU 11, when accessing a given entry, converts an entry number
thereof into an address on the memory 12 and accesses its area on
the memory 12.
Further, when finishing the present browser, this channel table is
stored as a file and used when starting next time.
Moreover, the entry number corresponds directly to channel number.
To be more specific, when the information display system 1 is
indicated to display items of information identified by the channel
numbers 1 to 9, the items of information specified by URLs retained
in the entries 1 through 9, are displayed.
<Screen Layout>
FIG. 4 shows an example of display on the screen of the information
display system 1 in the first embodiment.
This screen includes a dial object 20 for switching a content of
display on the screen, a display area 22 for displaying the
information, a channel number display object 23 for identifying the
information displayed in the display area 22, and a set of
operation buttons 24.
Referring to FIG. 4, the dial object 20 is illustrated in
enlargement in a position indicated by a dotted-line arrowhead. The
dial object 20 includes character strings (which will hereinafter
be referred to as dial characters) for displaying the channel
numbers arranged substantially along the circumference and the
numbers of divisions, and an indicator 21 rotatable about the
center, as a rotary axis, of the circumference.
The numerals 1 to 9 are given as the channel numbers. Further, the
character strings for showing 2-divisions, 4-divisions and
9-divisions are given as the numbers of divisions.
The indicator 21 stops in a position that indicates any one of the
character strings representing the numbers 1 to 9, the 2-divisions,
the 4-divisions and the 9-divisions. When the user clicks any one
of the character strings representing the numbers 1 to 9, the
2-divisions, the 4-divisions and the 9-divisions by use of the
mouse 16, the indicator 21 moves to the position corresponding to
the clicked character string.
Referring again to FIG. 4, the indicator 21 is in the position that
indicates the channel number 2. In this case, the information
corresponding to the channel number 2 is displayed in the display
area 22. An operation mode in which the information corresponding
to the single channel is displayed on the one single screen, is
called a single full screen display.
The set of operation buttons 24 consist of a "Back" button, a
"Forward" button, a "Stop" button, an "Update" button, a
"Favorites" button (for displaying registered pages), and a "Print"
button. The user indicates to change the display on the screen by
clicking the numeral or the character string representing the
number of divisions in the dial object 20, or clicking one of the
operation buttons 24. When the user clicks, for example, the
channel numbers 1 and 3 through 9 one after another in the dial
object 20 in the state shown in FIG. 4, the indicator 21 moves as
that number is clicked, and the information corresponding to that
channel number is displayed in the display area 22.
On the other hand, when the user clocks the link contained in the
information displayed in the display area 22, the browser functions
to detect URL corresponding to the clicked link. Then, the browser
stores the detected URL in the entry of the channel table, which is
specified by the channel number (the channel 2 in FIG. 2) displayed
in the display area 22. Further, the browser obtains the
information located by URL and displays this item of information in
the display area 22.
FIG. 5 shows a 2-divided screen. When the user clicks the character
string representing the 2-divisions in the dial object 20, the
indicator 21 indicates the character string representing the
2-divisions, and the screen of the browser is divided equally by 2
into a display area 22a and a display area 22b. Namely, the thus
divided display areas each have the same dimensions in the first
embodiment.
The channel number displayed when specifying the 2-divisions is the
smallest number among the channel numbers displayed so far before
specifying the 2-divisions, and a channel number next thereto. For
example, referring to FIG. 4, "2" is indicated as the channel
number. In this state, when specifying the 2-divisions, as
illustrated in FIG. 5, the items of information corresponding to
the channels identified by the channel numbers 2 and 3, are
displayed.
FIG. 6 shows a 4-divided screen. When the user clicks the character
string representing the 4-divisions in the dial object 20, the
indicator indicates the character string showing the 4-divisions,
with the result that the browser screen is divided equally into
four display areas. When specifying the 4-divisions, the channel
number to be displayed is the smallest number among the channel
numbers displayed so far before specifying the 4-divisions, and
three channel numbers subsequent thereto.
For instance, referring to FIG. 5, the numerals "2" and "3" are
shown as channel numbers. When specifying the 4-divisions in this
state, the items of information corresponding to the channel
numbers 2, 3, 4 and 5 are, as shown in FIG. 6, are displayed.
FIG. 7 shows a 9-divided screen. When the user clicks the character
string representing the 9-divisions in the dial object 20, the
indicator 21 indicates the 9-divisions, and the browser screen is
equally divided into nine display areas. In the information display
system 1 in the first embodiment, he channel number is 9, and
hence, when specifying the 9-divisions, all the channels 1 through
9 are displayed in the respective display areas as illustrated in
FIG. 7. An operation mode of dividing, as shown in FIGS. 5 to 7,
the screen into the plurality of display areas 22a etc and
displaying the items of information corresponding to the plurality
of channels, is called a screen division display.
On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, when the items of
information corresponding the plurality of channels are displayed
in the plurality of display areas 22a etc, and when user clicks any
one of the channel numbers 1 through 9 in the dial object 20, the
indicator 21 turns to a position pointing that clicked number.
Then, the information corresponding to the clicked channel number
is displayed in the single display area 22 emerging in a way of
overlaying other display areas 22a etc.
Further, as shown in FIG. 5 through 7, when the items of
information corresponding to the plurality of channels are
displayed in the plurality of display areas 22a etc, and when the
user clicks double the channel number display object 23 in any one
of the display areas 22a etc, the information indicted by the
channel number display object 23 is displayed in enlargement in the
single display area 22 emerging in a way of overlaying other
display areas 22a etc.
Further, when the user clicks the link contained in the information
displayed in the display areas 22a etc, the browser detects URL
corresponding to the clicked link. Then, the browser changes URL
corresponding to the channel number (the channel 2 in FIG. 4)
displayed in the display area 22a etc to URL detected.
Subsequently, the browser obtains and displays the information
located by that URL in the display area 22a etc.
<Drag & Drop for Link>
As discussed above, according to this information display system 1,
when clicking the link in each display area 22, the information
displayed in that display area 22 is changed to an item of
information of a destination of the clicked link.
On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, in the state of the
screen which is divided into the plurality of display areas 22,
when the user drags the link displayed in a certain display area
22a and drops it to other display area 22b etc, an item of
information of a destination of that link is displayed in the
display area 22b where the link has been dropped. The "drag" herein
connotes an operation of locating a pointer of the mouse 16 at an
operation target and moving the operation target in a desired
direction by moving the mouse 16 while depressing the button.
Further, the "drop" connotes an operation of releasing the button
of the mouse 16 after dragging the operation target, and thus
taking off the operation target.
For instance, referring to FIG. 5, it is assumed that the user
drags a link 25 (a character string in the see detailed
illustration) displayed in the display area 22a that corresponds to
the channel number 2 and drops it in the display area 22b
corresponding to the channel number 3. At this time, the browser
recognizes URL corresponding to the dragged link 25 and the channel
number 3 corresponding to the display area 22b where the link 25
has been dropped. The browser changes URL corresponding to the
channel number 3 in the channel table to the URL dropped, and
further displays the information (detailed drawing) corresponding
to that URL in the display area 22b corresponding to the channel
number 3.
<History Management>
The browser in this information display system 1 retains a history
of user's operations in a history management table. The history of
the operations is defined as a list of URLs each locating the
information displayed by the user.
FIG. 8 shows a structure of a history management table. The history
management table comprises records each consisting of a history
number and URL.
The history number represents how much the operation history
possessed by that record is old or new. As this history number is
smaller, the operation history becomes older. As this history
number is larger, the operation history becomes more fresh.
URL locating the information displayed by that operation is
recorded in the field of URL.
Each record in the history management table is accessed by an entry
number. The entry number is made corresponding to an address of
each record on the memory 12.
When the user clicks a desired link in the display area 22
corresponding to a channel number n, the browser displays the
information related by this link. At this time the browser records
URL locating that item of information in the history management
table.
The history is recorded based on a relation with the number of
existing histories in the following procedures. More specifically,
if the number of existing histories is larger than a channel number
n-1, a new history of this time is recorded in an entry recorded
with the oldest history among the existing histories.
Whereas if the number of existing histories is smaller than the
channel number n-1, the history is recorded in an entry of the
channel number n.
The browser of the information display system 1 includes an
unillustrated history display button. When the user indicates the
browser to display the histories by use of the history display
button, the browser refers to the history management table and
displays the items of information located by URLs in the history
management table, corresponding to the number of the display areas
22 on the screen.
<Function>
FIGS. 9 through 13 show a processing procedure of the browser. The
CPU 11 executes the browser, thereby providing a function of the
information display system 1.
FIG. 9 shows an outline of the processing of the browser. The CPU
11, when executing the browser, to start with, judges whether a
screen division display is specified or not (S1). When the
indicator 21 of the dial object 20 indicates any one of the
2-divisions through the 9-divisions, the screen division display is
specified. On the other hand, when the indicator 21 indicates
anyone of the channels 1 through 9, the single full screen display
is specified. Referring to a state of the indicator 21 that is
retained in the memory 12, the CPU 11 judges whether the screen
division display is indicated or not.
In the case of the screen division display (Yes judgement in S1),
the CPU 11 divides the screen in accordance with the number of
divisions that is indicated by the indicator 2 (S4). Next, the CPU
11 refers to URLs registered in the channel table from the entry
number 1, corresponding to the number by which the screen is
divided (S5).
Whereas if judged not to be the screen division display in S1, the
CPU 11 displays the single full screen (S2, the whole screen
display). Next, the CPU 11 refers to URL having already registered
in the entry number 1 in the channel table, and displays the
information located by the URL on the single full screen (S3).
Subsequently, the CPU 11 comes to a wait-for-event state (S6). The
event connotes generally an external factor (e.g., a detection of
user's manipulating the mouse 16) or an internal factor (e.g., an
interruption from a timer) for changing a processing state (or a
control state of the CPU 11) of the browser. When the event occurs
(Yes judgement in S6), the CPU 11 executes an event process
(S7).
FIGS. 10 and 11 shows details of the event process. In the event
process, the CPU 11 categorizes the event and executes a process
corresponding to thereto.
At first, the CPU 11 judges whether a link is clicked or not (S71).
When a link is clicked, the CPU 11 displays the information of a
link destination on the same display area 22 (S72). Next, the CPU
11 stores URL corresponding to this link in the history management
table by conducting history management (S73). Thereafter, the CPU
11 finishes the event process.
Whereas if any link is not clicked (No judgement in S71), the CPU
11 judges whether or not the link is dragged (S74). If the link is
dragged, the CPU 11 displays the information of that link
destination in a display area where the link has been dropped
(S75). Next, the CPU 11 stores URL corresponding to that link in
the history management table by conducting history management
(S76), and finishes the event process.
If the event is not the dragging of the link, the CPU 11 judges
whether the event is the dividing indication or not (S77). The
event of the dividing indication occurs when the user clicks the
character string representing one of the 2-divisions through
9-divisions in the dial object 20 by use of the mouse 16. If the
event is the dividing indication, the CPU 11 divides the screen of
the browser, corresponding to the number of divisions (S78). Then,
the CPU 11 refers to URLs registered in the channel table by the
number of divisions, and displays the information corresponding
thereto in the display areas 22. Thereafter, the CPU 11 finishes
the event process.
Whereas if the event is not the dividing indication, the CPU 11
judges whether or not the event is an indication of displaying on
the single screen (S79). The event of the indication of displaying
on the single screen occurs when depressing any one of the channel
number display objects 23.
If the event is the indication of displaying on the single screen,
the CPU 11 executes a process of displaying on the single screen
(S7a).
Whereas if the event is not the indication of displaying on the
single screen, the CPU 11 judges whether or not the event is a
switchover of the channel on the single screen (S7b). The event of
the channel switchover occurs when depressing a numeral indicating
one of the channel number 1 through 9 in the dial object 20.
If the event is the channel switchover on the single screen, the
CPU 11 executes a channel switching process (S7c).
Note that a common program module is executed both in the process
of displaying on the single process and in the channel switchover
on the single screen. This will hereinafter simply be termed a
channel switching process.
If the event is not the channel switchover, the CPU 11 judges
whether or not the event is an indication of displaying the
histories (S7d). If the event is the indication of displaying the
histories, the CPU 11 refers to URLs retained in the history
management table sequentially from the latest history,
corresponding to the number of divisions of the screen (the number
of the display areas 22). Then, the items of information located by
the URLs are displayed by the number of screen divisions.
(S7e).
If the event is not the indication of displaying the history, the
CPU 11 judges whether or not the event is an indication of
finishing the browser (S7f). If the event is the indication of
finishing the browser, the CPU 11 finishes the browser. Whereas if
the event is not the indication of finishing the browser, the CPU
11 finishes the event process.
FIG. 12 shows details of a history management process (S73 or S76
in FIG. 10). In the history management process, the CPU 11 at first
judges whether or not the number of histories stored is larger than
the number of channels minus 1 (S100). If the number of histories
stored is smaller than the number of channels minus 1, the CPU 11
stores a fresh history (URL and a history number) in an entry of
which the number is the same display channel number in the history
management table (S101) At this time, a maximum value plus 1 among
the existing history numbers is set as a history number.
While on the other hand, if the number of histories stored is
larger than the number of channels minus 1, the CPU 11 searches an
entry of the oldest (of which the history number is 1) from the
history management table. Then, the CPU 11 stores a history (URL
and the maximum value among the history numbers) in that entry
(S102). Next, the CPU 11 decrements each of the history numbers in
other entries by 1 (minus 1).
FIG. 13 shows details of the channel switching process (S7a or S7c
in FIG. 11). In the channel switching process, the CPU 11 at first
judges whether or not the browser screen is divided at the present
(S110). If the browser screen is divided into a plurality of
display areas (Yes judgement in S10), the display mode on the
screen is set to the single full screen display (S11).
Next, the CPU 11 switches the screen display to URL of the
specified channel (S112). At this time the CPU 112 emits an
effective sound of the channel switching. Thereafter, the CPU 11
comes to an end of processing.
As discussed above, in the information display system in the first
embodiment, the browser screen is divided into the plurality of
display areas, and the items of information (home pages in World
Wide Web) corresponding to URLs different from each other, can be
displayed in the respective display areas. Therefore, this
information display system 1 is convenient for comparing two items
of information, e.g., information on commercial articles on the
Internet by arranging them.
Further, a consumption of resources can be more restrained than by
executing the plurality of browsers, and besides the areas (display
areas) used for displaying the menus can be reduced.
Moreover, it is feasible to decrease the time needed for starting a
new browser and for specifying the information that the user wishes
to browse, and to save the labor for the operation.
Further, according to the information display system 1, the user
drags and drops the link displayed in one display area to other
display area, whereby the information of the link destination can
be displayed in the display area where the link has been dropped
while keeping the information in the previous display area.
Accordingly, the user is, when searching plural items of related
information by following the links, able to browse the related
information by displaying batchwise these items of related
information on the same screen.
Furthermore, the present information display system 1 is capable of
retaining the user's operation history and displaying batchwise the
information displayed in the past, in the plurality of display
areas. The user is, when searching the plural items of related
information by following the links, therefore able to the labor for
getting back to the information displayed in the past. Moreover, in
this case, the histories are displayed as ordinary information in
the display areas 22, and hence the user is able to easily search
the necessary items of information from the operation histories in
the past and display these items of information.
MODIFIED EXAMPLE
In the first embodiment, the entry in the history management table
is determined based on the relation between the number of stored
histories and the number of channels. Then it is stored in the
history management. The embodiment of the present invention is not,
however, limited to this procedure of the history management.
FIG. 14 shows a modified example of the history management. In this
example, a history management list shown in FIG. 15 is used as a
substitute for the history management table in FIG. 8.
The history management list in FIG. 15 has a list structure in
which a plurality of elements are linked by pointers 50. Each
element consists of the pointer 50 and a region 51 for storing URL.
The pointers link the elements retaining URLs in the order of being
displayed. Therefore, the history management list is capable of
retaining the order in which to display the information.
On the other hand, the region 51 is stored with URL that locates
the displayed information. As a result, the history management list
is capable of retaining URLs for the displayed information in the
information-displayed order.
Further, the element retaining the oldest history in the history
management list is pointed by an oldest history pointer 53.
Further, the element retaining the latest history in the history
management list is pointed by a latest history pointer 54.
Therefore, the elements, which retain the oldest and latest
histories in the history management list, are explicated.
The elements starting from the element pointed by the oldest
history pointer 53 up to the element pointed by the latest history
pointer 54, are those having the stored histories. On the other
hand, the region from the element next to the element pointed by
the latest history pointer 54 to the element before the element
pointed by the oldest history pointer 53 is a free region. Thus, in
the history management list, the elements for retaining the stored
histories and the free region are linked in a ring-like
configuration.
FIG. 14 shows a history management procedure based on this history
management list. To begin with, the CPU 11 judges whether or not
the history management list contains the free region (S120) The
free region corresponds to a region from the element next to the
element pointed by the latest history pointer 54 to the element
before the element pointed by the oldest history pointer 53.
If there is no free region, the CPU 11 searches the element that
retains the oldest history from the oldest history pointer 53
(S121).
Next, the CPU 11 stores a new history (URL locating the information
displayed this time) in the oldest history element (S122).
Subsequently, the CPU 11 points the element stored with the new
history by the latest history pointer 54. Further, the CPU 11
advances the element pointed by the oldest history pointer 53 ahead
by one element in a new direction (S123). Thereafter, the history
management comes to an end.
Whereas if judging in S120 that there is a free entry, the CPU 11
stores the history (URL locating the information displayed) in the
head element of the free region (S124). Herein, the head element of
the free region is defined as the element next to the element
pointed by the latest history pointer 54. The head element of the
free region can be searched by following the element pointed by the
latest history pointer 54.
Next, the CPU 11 updates the latest history pointer 54 so as to
point the element stored with this history (S125). Thereafter, the
history management is finished.
According to the modified example, if it is judged in S120 that
there is no free entry, the element of the oldest history is stored
with the new history. Instead, if there is no free entry, an
element may be ensured fresh on the memory 12.
The embodiment discussed above has exemplified the case where the
screen is divided by 1, 2, 4 and 9. The embodiment of the present
invention is not, however, limited to these numbers of screen
divisions.
The embodiment discussed above has exemplified the case in which
the number of channels is set to 9. The embodiment of the present
invention is not, however, confined to this number of channels.
The embodiment discussed above has exemplified the case in which
the mouse 16 is used for dragging and dropping the operation
target. The embodiment of the present invention is not, however,
restricted to such constrcution. Other pointing device, e.g., a
touch panel may also be used in place of the mouse 16.
<Readable-by-Computer Recording Medium>
The program exemplified in this embodiment may be recorded on a
readable-by-computer recording medium. Then, a computer reads the
program from this recording medium and executes it, whereby the
computer can function as the information display system 1
demonstrated in the first embodiment.
Herein, the readable-by-computer recording medium embraces
recording mediums capable of storing information such as data,
programs, etc. electrically, magnetically, optically and
mechanically or by chemical action, which can be all read by the
computer. What is demountable out of the computer among those
recording mediums may be, e.g., a floppy disk, a magneto-optic
disk, a CD-ROM, a CD-R/W, a DVD, a DAT, an 8 mm tape, a memory
card, etc.
Further, a hard disk, a ROM (Read Only Memory) and so on are
classified as fixed type recording mediums within the computer.
<Data Communication Signal Embodied in Carrier Wave>
Furthermore, the above program may be stored in the hard disk and
the memory of the computer, and downloaded to other computers via
communication media. In this case, the program is transmitted as
data communication signals embodied in carrier waves via the
communication media. Then, the computer downloaded with this
program can be made to function as the information display system
in this embodiment.
Herein, the communication medium may be any one of cable
communication mediums (such as metallic cables including a coaxial
cable and a twisted pair cable, or an optical communication cable),
and wireless communication media (such as satellite communications,
ground wave wireless communications, etc.).
Further, the carrier waves are electromagnetic waves for modulating
the data communication signals, or the light. The carrier waves
may, however, be DC signals (in this case, the data communication
signal takes a base band waveform with no carrier wave.
Accordingly, the data communication signal embodied in the carrier
wave may be anyone of a modulated broadband signal and an
unmodulated base band signal (which corresponds to a case where a
DC signal having a voltage of 0 is set as a carrier wave).
<<Second Embodiment>>
FIGS. 16 and 17 show processes by the information display system 1
in a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram showing operations effected on
the dial object 20 displayed on the CRT 14 of the information
display system 1 in accordance with the second embodiment. FIG. 17
is a flowchart showing a process of detecting the operation
effected on this dial object 20.
The first embodiment has exemplified the information display system
1 constructed such that the channel table is stored with the
plurality of URLS, and the information displayed in one or the
plurality of display areas. The channel is switched over by
clicking one of the numerals or the character string representing
one of the 2- through 9-divisions in the dial object 20.
There will be explained the information display system 1 in the
second embodiment, wherein the indicator 21 in the dial object 20
is turned by manipulating left and right buttons of the mouse 16,
and the information displayed in the display area is thus switched.
The information display system 1 in the second embodiment is
substantially the same as the information display system 1 in the
first embodiment, except for the operations of the dial object 20.
Accordingly, the same components are marked with the same numerals
as those in the first embodiment, of which the repetitive
explanations are omitted. Further, the discussion might need the
reference to the drawings in FIGS. 1 through 15 as the necessity
arises.
<Operation of Dial Object 20>
FIG. 16 shows operation of the dial object 20 displayed on the CRT
14.
Referring to FIG. 16, the indicator 21 in the dial object 20
indicates the channel number 1. Further, a pointer 26 of the mouse
16 is set on the dial object 20, and the dial object 20 is in an
operable state (which will hereinafter be called a focused state).
In this focused state, when the user depresses the left button of
the mouse 16 (this is called a left click), the indicator 21 turns
counterclockwise by one step. Herein, "one step" implies an angle
through which the indicator 21 moves by one element of the dial
characters.
Further, in the state where the dial object 20 is focused by the
pointer 26, when the user depresses the right button of the mouse
16 (which is termed a right click), the indicator 21 turns
clockwise by one step.
Note that when the dial character of the dial object 20 is clicked,
the indicator 21 indicates this clicked character (the numeral or
the character string). Then, when the indicator 21 of the dial
object 20 turns, the display on the browser screen changes as done
in the first embodiment.
<Function and Effect>
FIG. 17 shows the process of detecting the operation with respect
to the dial object 20. When an operation event with respect to the
dial object 20 occurs, the CPU 11 executes the process shown in
FIG. 17.
To begin with, the CPU 11 judges whether or not the operation is
effected on the dial object 20 (S200). If judged not to be the
operation on the dial object 20, the CPU 11 judges whether or not
the dial character is clicked (S201).
When the dial character is clicked, the indicator 21 is moved to a
position of this clicked dial character (the numeral or the
character string representing one of the 2- through 9-divisions).
Further, the CPU 11 changes the display on the browser screen to
the channel indicated or the number of divisions indicated
(S202).
While on the other hand, if it is judged in S201 that the dial
character is not clicked, the CPU 11 executes nothing and finishes
the process of detecting the operation on the dial object 20.
In the judgement in S200, when detecting the operation on the dial
object 20, the CPU 11 next judges whether or not the dial character
is clicked by the left button (S203). If clicked by the left
button, the CPU 11 turns counterclockwise the indicator 21 of the
dial object 20 by one step (S204).
Next, the CPU 11 changes the display for the channel or the number
of screen divisions after the indicator has turned (S207), and
finishes the process of detecting the operation on the dial object
20.
Whereas if not clicked by the left button in the judgement in S203,
the CPU 11 judges whether or not the dial character is clicked by
the right button (S205). If clicked by the right button, the CPU 11
turns clockwise the indicator 21 of the dial object 20 by one step
(S206).
Next, the CPU 11 changes the display for the channel or the number
of screen divisions after the indicator has turned (S207), and
finishes the process of detecting the operation on the dial object
20.
If not clicked by the right button in the judgement in S205, the
CPU 11 executes nothing and finishes the process of detecting the
operation on the dial object 20.
As discussed above, according to the information display system 1
in the second embodiment, the user turns the indicator 21 of the
dial object 20 by manipulating the mouse 16 and is thus able to
change the display on the browser. The user is therefore able to
change over the display on the browser as simply as manipulating a
TV channel.
Further, the display on the browser can be switched over by such a
simple operation as setting a position of the mouse cursor on the
dial object 20 and performing the left or right click, with the
result that the trouble some operations become unnecessary.
MODIFIED EXAMPLE
In the embodiment discussed above, the dial object 20 is, as shown
in FIG. 16, constructed of the numerals and the character strings
(the dial characters) representing the number of divisions, which
are arranged along the circumference, and the indicator 21 turning
about the center of the circumference. The embodiment of the
present invention is not, however, limited to the configuration
itself of the dial object 20 described above. For example, the dial
object 20 may also take such a configuration that the object 20
does not include the indicator 21, and an indicated position is
shown by reversing the numeral or the character string representing
the number of divisions in a black-and-white mode. The indicator 21
may be formed in an annular shape or may include a projection for
indicating a predetermined position.
<<Third Embodiment>>
A third embodiment of the present invention will hereinafter be
discussed with reference to drawings in FIGS. 18 to 27. FIG. 18 is
an explanatory view illustrating an operation of how the object is
moved. FIG. 19 is a diagram showing a structure of the program in
the third embodiment. FIG. 20 is a diagram showing a data structure
of a movement destination list used by the information display
system 1 in the third embodiment. FIG. 21 is a flowchart showing
steps of a process of moving the object. FIGS. 22 and 23 are
flowcharts each showing steps of the object moving process in a
modified example 1 of the third embodiment. FIG. 24 is an
explanatory view illustrating how the object is moved in a modified
example 2 of the third embodiment. FIG. 25 is a flowchart showing
steps of the object moving process in the modified example 2
thereof. FIG. 26 is a diagram showing a structure of the program in
a modified example 3 of the third embodiment. FIG. 27 is a
flowchart showing the object moving process in a modified example 3
thereof.
The first and second embodiments have exemplified the information
display system 1 in which plural items of information are displayed
in the divided display areas 22, and the dial object 20 for
switching the information in this type of information display
system 1. The discussion in the third embodiment will be focused on
a function of properly moving the object that might be an obstacle
against displaying other objects in the above information display
system 1. Other configurations are the same as those in the first
or second embodiment, and the drawings in FIGS. 1 through 17 will
be referred to according to the necessity.
<Object Moving Function>
FIG. 18 is the explanatory view illustrating the operation of how
the object is moved. An object representing an automobile and a
circular object in FIG. 18.
This circular object embraces what is displayed for indicating a
corresponding channel number in, e.g., the display area described
above.
The circular object overlays a part of the automobile on the screen
30. Therefore, a part of the object of the automobile is obstructed
in its display. In accordance with the third embodiment, there will
be explained a function of changing a state as seen on the screen
to a state as on the screen 31 by one-touch operation. To be more
specific, when the circular object on the screen 30 is clicked by
the mouse 16, the information display system 1 in the third
embodiment moves the circular object to a specified position and
displays it as on the screen 31.
<Architecture of Program>
FIG. 19 shows an architecture of the program executed by the CPU 11
of the information display system 1. In this information display
system 1, the program consists of a window system 40 and an
application program 41. What is known as the window system 40 may
be Windows by Microsoft Corp., in U.S.A.
The window system 40 functions to display the object on the CRT 14
in accordance with an indication of the application program 41.
Further, the window system 40 monitors the user's operation
involving the use of mouse 16.
The application program 41 responds to the user's operation in
accordance with a report 42 given from the window system 40.
When the user clicks a given object, the window system 40 issues
the report 42 to the application program 41 indicating the window
system 40 to display the object.
The application program 41 receiving this report 42 refers to a
movement destination list 43 that defines a destination to which
the object is moved, and thus determines the movement destination.
Then, the application program 41 gives the window system 40 an
indication 44 indicating the movement destination of the
object.
Based on this indication 44, the window system 40 displays the
object in a position indicated.
<Structure of Movement Destination List 43>
FIG. 20 is a chart showing the movement destination list 43 in
which the movement destinations of the object are defined
beforehand. This movement destination list 43 consists of records
each composed of fields such as [present position], [moved
position] and [order of movements].
The field [present position] is stored with a value of 1 in the
record corresponding to a present position of the object. Further,
the filed [present position] is free in the record that does not
correspond to the present position of the object.
The field [moved position] shows a destination to which the object
is moved. In the information display system 1 in the third
embodiment, nine positions in the display area 22 are defined as
the moved positions. For instance, [left upper end] indicates a
position at a left upper corner in the display area 22. Similarly,
[right upper end] indicates a position at a right upper corner in
the display area 22. Hereinafter, [left lower end] and [middle
lower end] likewise indicate positions.
The field [order of movements] shows the order of movement when the
object concerned is clicked. For example, when the present position
is [left upper end], the order of movement is 1. At this time, when
the object is clicked, that object is moved to [right upper end]
(the order of movement is 2) of which [order of movement] is
defined next to the present position.
<Function>
FIG. 21 shows the object moving process in the application program
41. The CPU 11 executes this process, hereby providing a function
as the information display system 1 in the third embodiment.
In this object moving process, the CPU 11 monitors the user's
operation via the window system 40 (S300).
When the user's operation is detected (Yes judgement in S300), the
CPU 11 judges whether or not the object is clicked (S301). If the
object is not clicked, the CPU 11 sets the control back to S300,
wherein the CPU 11 monitors the user's operation.
Whereas if the object is clicked, the CPU 11 obtains the present
position of the object (S302). The present position can be obtained
by inquiring the window system 40.
Next, the CPU 11 obtains a position of the movement destination
with reference to the movement destination list 43 (S303).
Subsequently, the CPU 11 indicates the window system 40 to move the
object (S304). The object is thereby moved to a next movement
destination defined in the movement destination list 43.
Thereafter, the CPU 11 sets the control back to S300, in which the
CPU 11 monitors the user's operation.
As discussed above, in the information display system 1 in the
third embodiment, when the object is clicked, the clicked object is
moved to the predetermined movement destination. Therefore, if one
object overlays other object, the user is able to move this object
by the clicking of the mouse 16. Accordingly, the labor for
dragging as needed in the prior art can be simplified. Further,
unlike the prior art, the display architecture needs nether the
deletion of the overlaid object nor the icon symbolization, and
hence the object required to be displayed can be displayed so as
not to obstruct other objects.
Further, when the information display system 1 demonstrated in the
first embodiment implements the processes in this embodiment, the
double-clicks on the circular object are used for changing the
display area, and therefore a contrivance may be such that the
clicking operation is conducted by use of, e.g., the right button
so as not to overlap with the clicking in the first embodiment.
Modified Example 1 of Moving Process
FIG. 22 shows a modified example 1 of the object moving process. In
the information display system 1 in the third embodiment, the CPU
11 determines the movement destination of the object with reference
to the movement destination list 43. The embodiment of the present
invention is not, however, limited to the above steps of
determining the movement destination. For instance, in the steps
shown in FIG. 22, the movement target object is moved to a free
area where no other object is displayed.
Referring to FIG. 22, the judgements in S300 and S301 are the same
as those in FIG. 21, and hence their repetitive explanations are
omitted.
Referring again to FIG. 22, when the click on the object is
detected, the CPU 11 searches a free area on the screen (S312)
Next, the application program 41 instructs the window system 40 to
move the object to that free area (S313). The object is thereby
moved to the free area. Thereafter, the CPU 11 set the control back
to S300, wherein the CPU 11 monitors the user's operation.
FIG. 23 shows details of a free area searching process. the free
area can be recognized by the application program 41 inquiring the
window system 40.
The CPU 11, to start with, inquires the window system 40 and
obtains a list of the objects management by the window system 40
(S3121).
Next, the CPU 11 inquires the window system 40 and gets areas where
the respective objects exist on the screen (S3122).
Subsequently, the CPU 11 obtains areas excluding the
object-existing areas on the screen (S3123). This involves the use
of pixel arrays on the screen, e.g., 1024.times.1024 arrays, and
those areas can be obtained by putting check marks on the pixels
corresponding to the object-existing areas on the screen and
connecting the pixels with no check mark. Such a connection can be
expressed by use of, e.g., Run-Length method known as an image
processing method.
Next, the CPU 11 obtains a maximum free area (in which a run
lengths is maximum in X- and Y-directions) from the above areas,
and determines this area as a free area (S3124). Thereafter, the
CPU 11 finishes the free area searching process.
Note that as a method other than the method described above, for
example, the CPU 11 may obtain a free area from data on an
unillustrated VRAM by scanning the VRAM.
Modified Example 2 of Moving Process
FIGS. 24 and 25 show a modified example 2 of the object moving
method. In the third embodiment, the movement destination list 43
is stored with the movement destinations of the object and the
order of the movements, and the movement target object is moved
according to this order. As a substitute for this mode, (X- and
Y-directional) moving quantities of the object are retained, and
the movement target object may be moved by these moving
quantities.
FIG. 24 illustrates an object that is moved in this way. When the
user clicks the circular object with an encircled numeral of 2,
this circular object is moved a predetermined distance on the
screen. If a moving position shifts beyond the display area in the
X- or Y-direction, the moving position is set back by one screen.
Thus, a moving locus of the moving circular object is depicted by
dotted arrow lines.
FIG. 25 shows a process executed by the CPU in that case. The
judgements in S300 and S301 are the same as those in FIG. 21, and
hence their repetitive explanations are omitted.
Referring to FIG. 25, when the click on the object is detected, the
CPU 11 reads moving quantities (.DELTA.x, .DELTA.y) from an
unillustrated moving quantity table stored in the memory 12
(S322).
Next, the CPU 11 calculates a moving position (S323). The moving
position can be obtained by the following formulae. After-movement
X coordinates=Mod (before-movement X coordinates+.DELTA.x,
X-directional screen size) After-movement Y coordinates=Mod
(before-movement Y coordinates+.DELTA.y, Y-directional screen size)
where Mod (A, B) is a remainder when A is divided by B.
Accordingly, the coordinates after being moved invariably fall
within the screen range.
Next, the CPU 11 moves the movement target object to X, Y after the
movement (S324).
The moving quantity table may individually prepared for every
object and may also be shared with a plurality of objects. For
example, one kind of moving quantity table is prepared in the
information display system 1 and may be shared with all the
objects.
Further, one kind of moving quantity table is prepared in the
program for displaying the plurality of objects and may be shared
with the objects displayed in that program.
Modified Example 3 of Moving Process
In the third embodiment discussed above, the object is moved based
on the processing of the application program 41 for displaying the
object. The embodiment of the present invention is not however,
confined to this mode of moving the object on the basis of the
indication given from the application program 41.
FIG. 26 shows an architecture of a program for moving the object by
the processing of the window system 40 through no intermediary of
the processing of the application program 41 in the information
display system 1 (the modified example 3).
In the information display system 1, when detecting that the users
manipulates the mouse 16 with respect to a specified object, the
window system 40 refers to the movement destination list 43. Then,
the window system 40 determines a destination to which the object
is moved on the basis of the definitions in the movement
destination list 43. The window system 40 writes the movement
destination to a window system database (which is, for instance,
called Registry in Windows defined as a window system by Microsoft
Corp., in U.S.A) for showing display positions of the objects.
Then, the window system 40 re-displays the object. This object is
thereby displayed in the movement destination.
FIG. 27 shows the processing of the window system 40 that is
executed by the CPU 11 in this case. Referring to FIG. 27, the
judgements in S300 and S301 are the same as those in FIG. 21, and
hence the repetitive explanations are omitted.
Referring again to FIG. 27, when detecting the click on the object,
the CPU 11 searches a destination where the object is moved (S332).
In this case, the movement destination may be, as in the third
embodiment, defined in the movement destination list 43 or in the
moving quantity table as in the modified example 2. Furthermore the
movement destination may be decided to a free area where no other
object is displayed shown in the modified example of the third
embodiment.
Next, the CPU 11 rewrites a content of Registry indicating the
display positions of the objects (S333). Namely, the CPU 11 changes
the coordinates of the display position to coordinates of the
movement destination.
Subsequently, the CPU makes the window system 40 re-display the
object (S334). The object is thereby displayed in that movement
destination.
Note that Windows by Microsoft Corp, in U.S.A is assumed as the
window system 40, and Registry is assumed as the database of the
window system in this modified example. The embodiment of the
present invention is not, however, limited to Windows. The present
invention can be embodied in X Window System typical in UNIX
system, and also in OSF (Open Software Foundation)/Motif.
Modified Example of Hardware
In the embodiment discussed above, the clicking by the mouse 16 is
detected as the indication of moving the operation target. The
embodiment of the present invention is not, however, restricted to
this mode. Other pointing device, e.g., a touch panel is used as a
substitute for the mouse 16, and one-touch operation on the object
may also be detected. Further, the object may be moved based on
specific signals of a remote controller utilizing electromagnetic
waves such as infrared-rays etc. That is, the information display
system 1 includes a light receiving unit for receiving the
electromagnetic waves from this remote controller, and, when the
light receiving unit receives the signal (electromagnetic waves)
generated by pushing a given push button of the remote controller,
a specified object may also be moved.
Other Modified Examples
In the third embodiment, the movement destination list 43 is
prepared for every object. Instead of this, the movement
destination list 43 may be shared with the plurality of objects.
For example, one kind of movement destination list 43 is prepared
in the information display system 1 and may also be shared with all
the objects.
Further, one kind of movement destination list 43 is prepared in
the program for displaying the plurality of objects and may be
shared with the objects displayed in this program.
* * * * *
References